Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

I've heard and read so much about this, how it's so good for the baby, seems to be the thing to do these days. I didn't do it with my first two, which was in the past few years. It's a blur but I think one of them was put on my chest for a few seconds then plopped on the warmer for the APGAR, weighing, eye drops, etc.

Just wondering for more recent deliveries, what happened when the baby came out? It seems that in other parts of the county it's standard to have a "golden hour" of skin to skin, nursing, etc before they do anything with the baby (although I'm confused as to how they do the APGAR since that's obviously time sensitive).

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

We did a golden hour before they took DS to be weighed and measured. He was put directly on my chest within seconds. I think they did a few things with him right on my chest but I'm not sure. He definitely made his way to my nipple and latched on his own within that first hour which still amazes me.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

No, DS was born via emergency c-section and was brought down to the NICU almost immediately- they showed him to us and then brought him down. I couldn't even go see him that first night because I was on magnesium and couldn't be brought down. I did do skin to skin the next day when I got to go down to see him and a lot after.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

I haven't given birth yet, but my hospital (NYU Langone) has a birth plan checklist they ask you to fill out. One of the options is to have all testing done while on the mother's chest, including APGAR. As long as the baby is not in distress, they give the baby immediately to the mother.

ETA: I plan to do immediate skin to skin for as long as they'll let me. I have also opted for delayed cord clamping.

Message edited 3/17/2016 8:22:40 AM.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

No, neither time. I wanted to, but my daughters' births both had some issues and it wasn't an option. That said, they are 5 and 3 now and we're very attached to each other... so I don't think it affected them negatively.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

I had an emergency c section for one and planned c section for the other, but as soon as I was sewn up in recovery my kids were brought to me. I was still groggy from anesthesia. Even before then, while in the OR the babies were brought for me to kiss, my husband stayed with our kids caressing them while they were examined. So I had them in my arms nursing by about 10 minutes after birth. I then held them for that golden hour skin to skin.

Message edited 3/17/2016 8:35:17 AM.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Well I had 2 C-sections that left me sick and miserable for 12 hrs after each of my kids was born. I saw them for a minute when they came out and then I really didn't get to hold them again until 12 hrs later when I was feeling better. That being said, even without having skin to skin contact right after once I was with my babies, we were 100% completely bonded and everything was wonderful. So basically, if you can do skin to skin...........great! If not, don't stress, it's really not that big of a deal within the grand scheme of your kids life. There will be so many opportunities to bond with them!!

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

DD was born 5 years ago and we didn't do any skin to skin She came out, DH cut the cord, they held her up, and took her over to the warmer to do all the vitals, clean her up etc.
To be honest, I was in such a daze, almost numb and was just glad the excruciating pain of her crowning was over. At that point, I really didn't care what went on. I was in a daze really and can't imagine laying there for another hour with her just on my chest. I was too traumatized. I wasn't BFing either so maybe that was why they didn't?
Who knows.

I don't think she suffered any ill effects from it to be honest.

Message edited 3/17/2016 8:55:11 AM.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Nope. DS was born with the cord wrapped around his neck so they needed to check him immediately. We did skin to skin for about 30-45 minutes after he was checked.

I do not think it affected us at all. At 22 months, my DS still nurses like a champ...

Message edited 3/17/2016 8:51:52 AM.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

I did skin to skin with my daughter immediately after she was born- I am not sure how long we did it for--she was checked, weighted, etc and then I nursed her.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

I don't really remember doing it with my DD after she was born. I had an hour with DS after he was born. We did skin to skin and he breastfed. It was pretty amazing.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Nope. I didn't even get to hold her at all. They gave her right to DH for a second than had to take her away to check her blood sugar.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

DS was a c-section. We did skin to skin once I got into recovery.

DD was a VBAC. We did skin to skin, but I don't think it was an hour. It's all a blur b/c I was so tired having not slept the entire night before!

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

DS was c-section and we did skin to skin once we went to recovery but DH did skin to skin with DS immediately (Winthrop suggestion)

When we were in the hospital we did skin to skin whenever we didn't have visitor ps

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Nope and I was so drugged up I really didn't care. I did not see my DS other than a glance until I was out of recovery and up in my room.

It was fine with me.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Yes. Immediate skin to skin for a long time.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

For DS1 born 4.5 years ago, they immediately gave him to me but I don't think it was skin to skin. I think I was still wearing the gown.

For DS2, born 9 months ago, they took down my gown right before he came out, basically making it like a tube top, and put him right on me. I wasn't BFing but he hung out on me for probably close to an hour before they took him to weigh him, etc.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

DS- gave birth vaginally and did skin to skin with him

DD- unplanned C section, did not do skin to skin

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Nope.
They put her on my chest for photos and so I could see her, but not skin to skin. I didn't really care. I mean she was just 'there'. I never had that enlightening miracle moment people talk about. I mean I was in freaking god awful misery pain for 9hours then finally got a spinal. They cut open, pulled her out, showed her to me and well.. there she was. Well ok. That's nice. I got a lifetime with her to enjoy.

They took her away and after nearly threatening my husband to be sure he took care of her and never let her leave his sight, I asked if I could go to sleep.

Later they refused to let me see her because of my crazy high blood pressure. I pushed for it and only after proving I could raise my blood pressure even higher they finally allowed it. But again it was sort of anti-climatic in the large scheme of things.

People all built up these moments ridiculously high and although I wasn't horribly disappointed, I wasn't nearly as enthralled as I thought I'd be.

She latched fine when I got her to me hours and hours later. We bonded just fine. I pity anyone who stands between my daughter and I. She's more than healthy. So I see this all with a mountain size grain of salt.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Yup - delivered about 10 weeks ago at north shore and they put her on my chest immediately and she stayed there for about an hour. I didn't nurse right away though. I think I did after they took her away to be weighed and looked over.

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Yes and tried to nurse. I don't think it was for an hour though. It was a blur as I was exhausted.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

He didn't come to my chest immediately because the cord was loosely wrapped around his neck and it needed to be cut carefully. But they put him on my chest within about 1.5 min, before any testing or weighing or anything was done. He stayed on my chest and latched right away and we did that for about....half hour? Before they took him for a bit and got me up to pee and stuff.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?

Thanks everyone. I'm not worried about bonding, I think that is nonsense. I'm more interested in preventing hypoglycemia since I habe GD and I've read that this somehow prevents that. I'd love to avoid a NICU stay if possible!

Message edited 3/17/2016 12:21:14 PM.

Re: Did you do skin to skin immediately after baby was born?